5 Lessons I Want to Teach My Kids about Being Healthy

By Adam Gura

The other day, my daughter had a friend over to play. I just finished the infamous “Murph” workout (1 mile, 100 pull-ups, 200 push-ups, 300 squats, and a 1-mile run, all while wearing a weighted vest) when I heard her friend say to her, “why do your parents always workout?”

I’m 35 years old and am in the best shape of my life. Sadly, many 35-year-old men and women will mention, “I was such an athlete…in high school, but now (insert excuse of any sort here).” It is even more upsetting that children witnessing fit parents is out of the ordinary.

I can’t control what other adults choose to do with their life. If they want a sedentary lifestyle, one where children don’t admire their parents’ physical achievements, that is up to them. I, however, cannot let that happen; I value the impression I put upon my children too much.

Wow, that’s an epiphany. After all this time, I thought the number one goal of my fitness career is for my wife to think I look good without my shirt on, and here I’m saying it’s more about what my children see in me. I must be growing up or something.

In the end, I hope my children learn from me an idea of what it means to be healthy and active. After all, we only get one body. We had better make it a good one. With that…